A heartbreaking case out of Festus, Missouri, has shocked the community and raised urgent questions about mental health, family welfare, and the warning signs that may go unnoticed until it’s too late.
On May 28, 2024, a distressed mother walked into the Festus Police Department and calmly confessed to taking the lives of two of her children. Sheriff Dave Marshak later revealed that the mother claimed to have shot her 9-year-old daughter and drowned her 2-year-old son.
Responding officers discovered the daughter inside the mother’s vehicle—parked outside the police station—with what appeared to be gunshot wounds, and declared her dead at the scene . The son’s body was located later in a water fountain at a nearby resort.
Authorities confirmed the existence of a third child, uninjured and safely found following a search. The identities of the deceased children have not been disclosed to the public.
At a press conference, Sheriff Marshak stated the incident was treated as a deliberate act. The daughter passed away in the mother’s car, while the son had drowned elsewhere.
The mother was promptly arrested. Although her name was withheld pending formal charges, authorities later identified her as Ashley Parmeley, a 36-year-old from the Festus region. Parmeley faces first- and second-degree murder charges across two different counties—St. Francois County for the daughter’s death and Jefferson County for the son’s.
Court documents and interviews offer chilling details: Parmeley allegedly shot her daughter near Bonne Terre in St. Francois County. She then drove to a resort, where she forcibly held her 2-year-old son underwater for four or five minutes until he drowned. Her motives remain unknown; she reportedly described drowning her son as a “sacrifice” without further clarification.
The tragedy has left neighbors, classmates, and educators in mourning. Scarlet Parmeley, the 9-year-old daughter, was remembered as an outgoing and compassionate child—her teacher awarded her a “Squirrel Award” for bringing classmates together. A GoFundMe campaign to assist the surviving family has exceeded $20,000, as the tight-knit community rallies in support.
This heartbreaking event is unfortunately not isolated. A series of filicide cases across the US—including drownings of children and frenzied shootings—have called attention to the intersection of mental health struggles, isolation, and fatigue among parents.
Experts stress that warning signs such as postpartum depression, psychosis, or severe stress often go unnoticed without proper support systems and mental health outreach.
Parmeley is currently in Jefferson County Jail without bond. With no plea entered yet, and legal proceedings underway in both jurisdictions, her next court appearance is pending. Investigators are pursuing psychological evaluations, searching for possible underlying mental health issues.
Meanwhile, local leaders and child welfare advocates are emphasizing the urgent need to improve mental health screening, parental support networks, and community intervention programs to prevent such tragedies in the future.
This tragedy underscores the urgent necessity for community awareness and mental health resources. If anyone is struggling or recognizes signs of distress in themselves or loved ones, immediate help is critical.
